Divine Hammer (song)

"Divine Hammer"
Single by the Breeders
from the album Last Splash
B-side	"Hoverin'" "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)" "Do You Love Me Now Jr?"
Released	October 25, 1993 (1993-10-25)[1]
Label	4AD Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Kim Deal
Producer(s)	Kim Deal, Mark Freegard (album version) Fred Maher (single version)
The Breeders singles chronology
"Cannonball" (1993) "Divine Hammer" (1993) "Saints" (1994)

"Divine Hammer" is a song by American alternative rock band the Breeders, released as the second single from their second album, Last Splash (1993), in October 1993.

Meaning

Lead vocalist Kim Deal said: "It's about existential angst, really. I'm just looking for some divinity to come down and, you know what, I don't think there is anything. I don't use syringe drugs, but you could use drugs to find your divine, your divinity. Christian songs, they use all of these things... if you go around the mountain, and if you work hard with the hammer, and you meet a carpenter called Jesus Christ, and you travel miles and miles... all these stupid symbolisms that Christian folk groups will use."[2]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Divine Hammer" (single version)	Kim Deal	2:42
2.	"Hoverin'"	Deal/Murphy	2:53
3.	"I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)"	Hank Williams	2:32
4.	"Do You Love Me Now Jr?"	Kim Deal, Kelley Deal[a 1]	3:00

"Divine Hammer" is a different version than the LP version, and "Do You Love Me Now Jr?" is an alternate version of the LP version featuring J Mascis on backing vocals.

Music video

The music video for Divine Hammer was directed by Spike Jonze, Kim Gordon, and Richard Kern.[3]

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)[4]	59
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[5]	28

Notes

1. The "Divine Hammer" single liner notes list only Kim Deal as songwriter of "Do You Love Me Now Jr?" while the "Safari" single liner notes give both Kim and Kelley Deal songwriting credit for "Do You Love Me Now?"

References

1. "Single Releases". Music Week. October 23, 1993. p. 21.
2. "7 highlights from Kim Deal's amazing 1993 triple j interview". Double J. June 10, 2021.
3. Now Playing: "Divine Hammer"
4. "Breeders: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
5. "The Breeders Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.

• Aaron, Charles (March 1, 1994). "Ordinary People". Spin. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
• "Breeders Top 75 Releases". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
• "Divine Hammer" (CD booklet). The Breeders. London: 4AD. 1993.
• "Last Splash Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
• Last Splash (CD booklet). The Breeders. London: 4AD. 1993.
• Maginnis, Tom. "Divine Hammer Review". Allmusic. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
• "Now Playing: 'Divine Hammer'". 4AD. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
• Rabid, Jack. "Divine Hammer Review". Allmusic. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
• "Safari" (CD booklet). The Breeders. London: 4AD. 1992.
• "Song Stories: "Divine Hammer"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 26, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2013.